A Challenge for You

Not sure what category this belongs in, but this forum has a "positive" title, so I'll go with it. I'm declaring today "Be Authentic Day". This is a one-time free pass to be your best authentic self. Not the perfect self your mother, your teachers, your spouse or your friends "expect" you should be. But the real, fabulous, unique best self you know you are somewhere inside. Feel like a parent most of the time and hate it? Today you are free instead to be your authentic self, and not a parent. Hope you enjoy it! Feel like you're treated like a child who can't be trusted to take of yourself or your family? Day Off! Today you are free instead to be your best self and show it off to the world! Feel angry and resentful, and resenting that you feel that way? Holiday! Today you are free to show everyone how fun, funny and lighthearted you are deep down! Feel tired, hopeless and like you just can't get started? Poof! Gone! Go ahead and show the world the sparkling, full-of-energy person you know yourself to be! (pssst. You may get shocked a few times and forget today is YOUR day to be YOU in all your loving, strong, ADULT, no-excuses, fun-loving glory. That's okay. Be Authentic Day lasts until midnight, so you get another shot! But it may not come again for a while, so grab your chance.) Best wishes.

answering phones and my authentic self is a pretty outgoing hyper self! Not to mention that my authentic self might tell some of the "guests" what I think of their attitudes....lol So I will wait, I wouldn't want to scare anyone! Hehehehehe

Been doing this for a few weeks now...and it feels really good to literally feel like I am smiling through the middle of everyone else's chaos. Even at my WEAKEST times now, they are 1000 times better than my strongest times before. However...during the midst of one of my more chaotic moments Friday, when I had 10 things going at once and my son (autistic) was giving me a run for my money, I slipped on the broom (Pergo flooring) that I had just had my daughter hand me so I could sweep up a mess my son made...and did a split. Let me tell you, 43 year olds shouldn't be doing splits. First ER visit in 20+ years, but the pain was worse than my c-sections and I was afraid I had done something serious. So, I am on 800mgs Ibuprofen around the clock and it makes me tired and grumpy. Still having to take care of everything here (and instead of being disappointed and angry that no one is helping, I am Praising God that I can...and that nothing was broken) so I am pretty much dopey and grumpy (LOL I sound like the 7 Dwarfs!) today, but I will encourage everyone else along! :-)

It is amazing how much I LOVE 'me' once I shed the anger and just started to exist in this world as ME. Not as someone's wife, or someone's mom, or someone's horrible step-mom...but just as ME. Most importantly, I stopped believing all of the horrible things I heard about myself from others...and stopped giving them valid reasons to blame me for their misery. No question, if I am blamed now, I know I can hold my head high and say I had nothing to do with their behaviors/choices. Even my 13 year old and I are getting along better. She is my pride and joy but she is A) a teenager and B) just like her daddy. She is a momma's girl, but she really is pushing the envelope. LOL

Good Luck everyone. I am praying that we all manage to find our authentic selves today...and that you like what you see so much you can't imagine ever being any different.

I cant even imagine doing the splits on purpose, let alone as an accident....OUCH! Take care of yourself lady and don't worry about sounding like the 7 Dwarfs, its only temporary and could even be a bright spot of humor in your day! ~~HUGS~~